Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Powys-Lybbe Forbears - Person Sheet
Birth12 Aug 1881, 71 Rue Tour Notre Dame, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Baptism8 Sep 1881, St John the Evangelist, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Death25 Mar 1930, Rectory Farm, Streatley, Berks
Burial28 Mar 1930, Grave 2255, Hemdean Cemetery, Victoria Road, Caversham, Reading
General1st s. Benefactor. 1914 Star in WW1. Special Constable.
EducationMount prep school, St Leonards, then a tutor at Whatley, near Frome, Somerset then Cirencester Agric College.
MotherSarah Ann Bartholomew (1851-1895)
Notes for Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe (born POWYS)
Martin P-L writes:

REGINALD CECIL LYBBE P-L 1881-1930

He was born in Boulogne and baptised there at St John the Evangelist's.
1888  Aged 7 when his father died.  His mother soon remarried, but herself died when Reginald was 14.  Meanwhile he was brought up by the Darnells, (his uncle and aunt - TFPL) near Romsey.
He and P.G. Wodehouse were at prep. school together.  Poor health prevented further schooling, but he was tutored by someone, perhaps in Mells.  He also worked on a farm (of which his future wife much disapproved!).

1900-01  attended Cirencester College of Agriculture, where records show that he always scored high marks in exams, with the single exception of his last Physics exam, where he got only 163 ex 200 and failed the viva voce.  The last record for him reads: Honours Diploma of Membership: Powys-Lybbe still to pass in one subject.

Before his marriage he lived at Holly Copse, where his grandfather had died in 1897.  [Though RCLP-L's notes show the gent as dying at Brighton ... as does the probate record ... and does his death certificate.]

Inherited Hardwick House from his grandfather Philip Lybbe Powys-Lybbe on 16th Sept 1897 [TFPL, 2010: It is more likely that Hardwick, as was Broomfield, was put into a trust in 1887; see his grandfather’s will of that date.  Then when he became 21, in 1902, RCLPL had a life interest in it, or may well have had absolute ownership.]  Sold Hardwick House to Sir Charles Rose, Bart in 1909.

Bought Rectory Farm from Mrs Henry M Calmont in 1907.  (This property was held for many years by the Pusey family, the owner of which holds certain ancient rights as lay rector.)

1908  Married Lilian Frances Gillett Trotter, whose father was the Rector of Whitchurch and Hon.Canon of Christ Church, Oxford.  In 1910, Hardwick was sold (including Holly Copse), and in 1914 Bull Croft, a park of 19 acres, was given to the town of Wallingford.  [His father's house, The Croft, was presumably sold when his mother remarried.  It had in any case been pulled down and replaced by a Lutyens designed building, Rush Court.]  [TFPL: I suspect this is a confusion.  Rush Court was the old Greenwood residence, left to WRLP-L by his great uncle Charles Greenwood in 1879]  Meanwhile, Reginald and Lilian bought Thurle Grange, renamed it Rectory Farm, and moved in. [TFPL: RCLP-L's notes show him as buying Rectory Farm in 1907, before marriage, though doubtless in contemplation of same.]

After his brother Richard deserted his family, they gave a home to the three children. [TFPL, Feb 2001: RCLPL's brother Richard divorced in 1920, by 1921 RCLPL and LFGPL had already started separation proceedings having lived separately for years.  Possibly it was after this that the three children were taken in when their father abandoned them to go to Canada.  I don't think LFGPL saw much of them.  June 2005: There were in fact four children and it looks as if the youngest stayed with his mother; though he was named P-L and RB P-L was on sick leave nine months before the birth,, one wonders who his father actually was.]  However, it must have been an unsettled upbringing, since Reginald and Lilian separated, and the former spent much of the rest of his life living in hotels.

Quite early in his marriage he became an R.C. [received into Church at St James' Catholic Church, Reading in June 1914 - TFPL] and something of a benefactor to the Church.  He built a church in Reading, gave land to Downside, an altar to Douai.

Served in France during the European War under the French Red Cross (1914 Star).

He was a pioneer motorist. Among other cars he had three Mercedes, of 18, 45 and 60 h.p.  Photographs of these and of family survive in two albums, dating from about 1906-12.

Aged 49 he died of cancer.  - MPL
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TFPL Jan to Dec 1988
:

RCLPL got a Royal Licence on 2 April 1907 from Edward VII to quarter the Lybbe arms with Powys as our personal "impartible" arms.  I have the document signed by E VII not to mention the far more ornate but less interesting exemplification from the C of A.  He also had 64 Quartered Arms confirmed in the late 1920s: Norfolk 32/149.  Subsequently most revealed to be debarred by unrepealed attainder on Margaret of Salisbury, though the Dictionary of National Biography says, for Margaret, this attainder was repealed in Mary's reign.

In any case the Brittany and Rohan arms cannot be claimed as the C of A's genealogy is F A L S E!  7.4.2000: Just discovered that Amicia Mandeville was probably illegitimate so that her father's arms cannot be inherited either.

But the Michell, Girle, Slaney (these three sketched by RCLP-L so he was obviously fairly confident of them), Trotter and Brown arms can be claimed in their place, not to mention all those claimed by Thomas of Snitton in his visitation and one or two thought to be claimable by RCLP-L such as Littleton, Botreaux, Burley and Saunders, Blunt, Carew and Marston...  Though the last four are from the Twysden line and Isabella Twysden was NOT an Heraldic Heiress.

7.4.2000: And the Gobert arms can also be claimed; she was an heiress married by a late Barrington.  June 2005: It seems that she may have brought with her some Gaskon (Gascoigne) and Neville of Thornton Bridge quarterings as well - not sure, though.

The P-L impartible arms are blazoned by RCLP-L as:

1st & 4th LYBBE: Ermine a bend between two lions rampant gules, 2nd & 3rd Powys: Or a Lion's gamb erased between two cross crosslets fitchée in bend sinister gu.

Crest of LYBBE: On a wreath of the Colours a dexter arm embowed in mail armour a hand supporting a spear erect, all proper.

Crest of POWYS: A lions gamb erased and erect gules holding a sceptre headed with a fleur-de-lys, or.

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TFPL in Dec 1999
:

RCLPL was born on 12th August 1881 as Reginald Cecil Lybbe POWYS with only the POWYS for his surname.  On his birth certificate, no 175, his father is down as William Reginald Lybbe POWYS and his mother as Sarah POWYS née BARTHOLOMEW.  The place of birth is given as Boulogne Sur Mer and his father's, the informant's, address as 71 Rue Tour Notre Dame, Boulogne sur Mer.  Registered at the Vice Consulate on 23rd August 1881.

From his baptismal certificate, copy made on 1st March 1907:

Page:                          35 of 1881
Entry Number:                  274
Baptised at:                   Church of St John the Evangelist, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France
Date:                          6th September 1991
Name:                          Reginald Cecil Lybbe
Parents:                       William Reginald Lybbe and Sarah
Surname:                       Powys
Abode:                         71 r Tour Notre dame
Quality, Trade or Profession:  Esquire
Celebrant:                     H. Meysey-Turton, Chaplain
Copy made by                   J V C Dutton-Tompson, Chaplain of St John's, Boulogne sur Mer 

Presumably he became a P-L when his father changed his name, sometime before 1887 when he, WRLP-L, announced it in a codicil to his will.  (See below for the true story.)

In 1895 when his mother died, he and his siblings were adopted by their Aunt, Julia Darnell.  This was an informal adoption as legal adoptions did not occur until new legislation around 1926.

In 1900 he went to live at Whitchurch, Oxon (in Holly Copse at which he took - and we have - some photos of his cars and his brother Dick during that time).

Was a Special Constable and had a Warrant Card as such for the County of Berkshire issued by Lt Col X X Fuller (or suchlike), Chief Constable of Berkshire.

He left behind him, and only revealed in the year 2000, a testament recording the details of his immediate ancestry and of his disagreements with his, by then, separated wife.  This testament (for want of a better word) was written about 1925, from internal evidence; the final separation was about 1922.
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TFPL, June 2001: Just found a snippet in Palmer's Times Index to show that RCL P-L changed his name from Powys in Aug 1902, about three weeks after he became 21. Reported on 1 Sep 1902, p. 1, col b.

TFPL, May 2004: found the entry in The Times of Monday 1st September showing that our grandfather changed his name by deed poll in 1902:

"TAKE NOTICE that REGINALD CECIL LYBBE POWYS-LYBBE, heretofore REGINALD CECIL LYBBE POWYS (but commonly known as Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe), of Hardwick House, in the County of Oxford, and of Broomfield House, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, by a Deed Poll under his hand and seal, bearing date the 18th day of August 1902, and duly enrolled in the Central Office of the Supreme Court of Judicature, declared that he intended thenceforth, pursuant to Royal letters patent dated 18th February 1863, to ASSUME and USE the SURNAME of LYBBE in addition to and after that of Powys, and by the name of Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe thenceforth to subscribe and write and call himself in and upon all Deeds, Instruments, and Writings and upon all occasions whatsoever, and that he intended thenceforth to be so known.
  "Dated the 23rd day of August, 1902
     "ROWCLIFFE, RAWLE & Co., 1, Bedford-row, London, Agents for Hamilton Fulton, Salisbury, Solicitor for the said Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe."
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TFPL, March 2002: Found a document dated 29th September 1902, in the J Ambler Collection in the Oxford Record Office ref Amb/V/45, which include mentions of a property in Wallingford owned by "Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys esq".  Sounds as if he used his birth name right through to the above deed poll???

In the 1901 census he was at (the agricultural college) Cirencester, Glos as a pupil aged 19 and born in Boulogne, France.
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TFPL, March 2003: I have seen his entry in the record books of the College of Arms.
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TFPL, May 2004: In the 1891 census he was aged 9 (correct) and living with his mother, step-father and siblings at The Bungalow, Burghfield, Nr Newbury, Berks.
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He is in the 1930 Catholic Who's Who and the 1909 Walford's County families.  Must look them up.
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In the TNA medals archive, Ref WO/372/12, Image ref 36616, there is some correspondence about his claim for a medal.  He was with the British and French Red Cross in the British Expeditionary Force in 1914, as a driver with the Motor Ambulance Division in the Haden-Gareat (?) Unit.  On the 16 May 1918 and 7 Oct 1918 he was sent letters to say he was ineligible for any medal.  But on 18 Jan 1920 he was sent a letter to say that he was eligible.  The record appears to say that he got the 1914 Star and the Victory British Star.

At the last count I still had those medals plus a third one which I do not know about - TFPL, Dec 2004
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On his death certificate his death date is given as the 25th March 1930, whereas other records show it as the 24th.  He died of (a) ??? disease of heart and (b) rheumatism, certifed by Leonard Leslie, MD.  The informant was Lilian Powys-Lybbe, widow of deceased, in attendance though living at Goldfinch Hollow, Alverchurch Common, Newbury, with the registration given on the 28th March.
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On his marriage certificate he was 26 and a gent, living at Holly Copse, Whitchurch.  The witnesses were :
Philip Shuttleworth Darnell - His uncle and foster/adoptive father,
Julia Elinor Darnell - His aunt and foster/adoptive mother,
Henry E Trotter - Her father,
F W T Greenwood - some relation of his paternal grandmother, presumably.

The celebrant seems to have been T H Archer Houblon, who may have been a relation of Bransby William Powys, whose second wife was Kathleen Archer.

At the time of the marriage, he was 26; she was 21, a spinster and living at the Rectory, Whitchurch.
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On 22 Dec 1928, he and APL departed London on the ship Orvieto for Naples (the ship was going on to Australia).  He was of St Ermine, Caxton St, London SW1 with no occupation and aged 47, and APL was of the same address and a Cadet at RMA (Woolwich) aged 19. They travelled 1st class.  (I know nothing of that trip; it was never in my father’s stories, though RCL P-L was a little over a year away from his death.)
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A mere two months before his death he was on a ship from London to Naples (again), departing 1st February 1930.  His address was Rectory Farm and he was 48.

And on 27 February 1930 he landed at Plymouth having embarked at Naples.
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In 1911, there were the four of them at Rectory Farm, then called Thurle Grange with 25(!) rooms, plus 8 servants in the house, two gardeners between the lodge and an adjoining cottage and Miles, the chauffeur and fitter, in another cottage.
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January 2013, TFPL: I was investigating his Bartholomew cousins and found that he had a first cousin with the same first two forenames in Reginald Cecil Avey born in July 1880.  This cousin was a year older than RCLPL so if there was any copying, it was from him.  RCLPL’s first forename could as easily have come from his father who had Reginald for a second name.  So it sounds very likely that Sarah rapidly decided that it would be nice to use the same second name as her sister Elizabeth for her youngest son.  I more incline to this view as I realise that the use of names was then still to honour relatives and that there was no Cecil to be found in any Powys relation, making it more likely that it came from the Bartholomews.  Do I imagine rightly that Sarah, RCLPL’s mother, never revealed this to anyone?
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Nov 2013, TFPL.  He had this birth announcement in The Standard on Tues 16th August 1881:

“LYBBE-POWYS.-August 12, at Boulogne-sur-Mer, the wife of W R LYBBE-POWYS Esq., of a son and heir.”

Curiously he was then christened and registered with the name of POWYS.
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Berkshire Burial Index Transcription

First name(s)  Reginald Cecil Lybbe
Last name      Powys-Lybbe
Birth year     1882
Death year     1930
Burial day     28
Burial month   Mar
Burial year    1930
Age at death   48
Church         Hemdean Road Cemetery
Place          Caversham
Residence      Streatley on Thames
County         Berkshire

Note that his birth year is a year late.
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The Victoria County History for Berks, Vol 3, pub 1923, pp 417-422 has this to say, inter alia, of the Manor of PURLEY PARVA:

“R
eynold Barentyne was succeeded before 1451 by his son Drew, (fn. 83) who granted the manor in that year to John Norreys as security for the payment of an annual rent of 10 marks from the manor of Rofford in Chalgrove (co. Oxon.). (fn. 84) Apparently the rent was unpaid, for John Norreys was in possession of the estate by 1462, in which year he settled it on himself and his wife Margaret. (fn. 85) The manor remained in the Norreys family, until 1630, (fn. 86) when it was held by Edward Wray and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Norreys, Earl of Berkshire; it passed subsequently to Anthony Lybbe, who dealt with it by fine in 1659. (fn. 87) Richard Lybbe, probably the grandson of Anthony, was dealing with it in 1707. (fn. 88) His daughter Isabel married Philip Powys (fn. 89); their son, Philip Lybbe-Powys, was vouchee in a recovery of 1759. (fn. 90)

“The present owner of the estate is Mr. Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe, but the manorial rights, which were exercised as late as 1790, (fn. 91) have fallen into abeyance.”

It looks like a claim could be made for this lordship of the manor as such are now treated separately from the manor estate land and buildings.  Ho Hum.
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In 1906 he went to Washington, USofA on a pleasure visit.  We have three photos of his labelled accordingly and with a young lady on a motor car fording a river.
IN 1918 Family Search produced a stack of Ellis Island records including this transcription:

Name:                   Reginald Powys Lybbe
Event Type:             Immigration
Event Date:             16 Oct 1906
Event Place:            Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States
Gender:                 Male
Age:                    25
Marital Status:         Single
Nationality:            Great Britain, English
Birth Year:             1881
Departure Port:         Liverpool
Ship Name:              Carmania
Page Number:            3
Affiliate Line Number:  0022

They also provided a scan of the actual record page which I have transcribed as:

No on List:                     22
Name in Full:                   Lybbe Reginald Powys-
Age, Yrs:                       25
Sex:                            M
M or Single:                    S
Occupation:                     None
Read:                           Y
Write:                          Y
Nationality:                    Gt Britain
Race:                           English
Last residence:                 Whitchurch Oxon 
[Over-Stamped "NON-IMMIGRANT ALIEN]
First Destination:              Washington
Have a ticket to 1st dest:      No
Who paid for his passage:       Self
Possess $50?                    More
Previously in USA?:             Y
Visiting a friend or relative:  Pleasure visit
Ever in prison, etc             N
Polygamist?:                    N
Anarchist?:                     N
Coming for work?:               N
Health:                         Good
Crippled:                       N
Height:                         6ft 0ins
Complexion                      Fair
Hair colour                     Brown
Eye colour                      Blue
Identifying mark:               None
Birth place:                    Boulogne
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TFPL, April 2020: I have just been contacted by the priest of the church of “
Our Lady Queen of Peace and Blessed Margaret Pole” who was perplexed by the gift of the land for his parish church in Southbourne, Nr Christchurch, Hampshire.  My immediate thought was that it was because of the dedication to Margaret Poole, but it appears that this only added some years later.  Perhaps he expressed a wish to that effect with his gift.

There is a plaque in the church which says:

                OF YOUR CHARITY
             PRAY FOR THE SOUL OF
       REGINALD CECIL LYBBE POWYS-LYBBE
    WHO GENEROUSLY GAVE THE SITE ON WHICH
       THE SOUTHBOURNE CHURCH PROPERTY 
    STANDS ± A MASS IS IS SAID ANNUALLY ON
    LOW SUNDAY FOR THE REPOSE OF HIS SOUL
                    R.I.P.

I had no idea that he had made this gift as well as the one for the English Martyrs in Tilehurst, Reading.
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On 17th May 1929, a little over a year before his death, he embarked on a boat at Southampton for Tangier.  His home address was St Ermins.
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Will notes for Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe (born POWYS)
His two probate index entries:

POWYS-LYBBE Reginald Cecil Lybbe of Rectory Farm Streatley Berkshire died 23 March 1980 Probate (limited to settled land) London 4 September to Hamilton Fulton solicitor Granville Edward Stewart Streatfeild architect and Clive Marriott agent.  Effects 72388 15s. 9d.
Another Grant (limited to other settled land) issued same day.  Former Grant P.R. 15 July 1930

POWYS-LYBBE Reginald Cecil Lybbe of Rectory Farm Streatley Berkshire died 23 March 1980 Probate (limited to settled land) London 4 September to Hamilton Fulton solicitor Granville Edward Stewart Streatfeild architect and Clive Marriott agent.  
Mon Inscripts notes for Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe (born POWYS)
On his tombstone in Victoria Road Cemetary, Caversham, Reading:

                 HERE LIES
     REGINALD CECIL LYBBE POWYS-LYBBE
           DIED MARCH 24TH 1930
             IN HIS 50TH YEAR
               PRAY FOR HIM
                  R.I.P.

(The text is all centred on the stone supporting the cross)

My father said he bought this gravestone from Heelas (now, in 2001, part of the John Lewis Partnership) in Reading, the large department store there.  He further said he had decided what should be engraved on the stone, his mother, the separated spouse, not being a Catholic.  These memories were all on the occasion of, he thought, his first visit to the grave in September 2001 when we went there on our way to the service and reception for the 75th anniversary of the opening of the English Martyrs church, Tilehurst, Reading.  At the reception he was presented with Volume I of the parish's history and a nicely framed photo of the church, all in honour of RCLPL's gift of five-sixth's of the building cost, the remaining one sixth being found from the parishioners.   TFPL. 23rd Sept, 2001.
Arms Generally notes for Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe (born POWYS)
1st & 4th LYBBE: Ermine a bend between two lions rampant gules, 2nd & 3rd POWYS: Or a Lion's gamb erased between two cross crosslets fitchée in bend sinister gu.

Crest of LYBBE: On a wreath of the Colours a dexter arm embowed in mail armour a hand supporting a spear erect, all proper.

Crest of POWYS: A lions gamb erased and erect gules holing a sceptre headed with a fleur-de-lys, or.
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Bookplate: he used the following arms:
1. Powys-Lybbe, as above.
2. Lybbe, as above.
3. Girle, gules on a cross engraved or, a pellet.
4. Michell, per chevron gules and sable, a chevron argent, guttee-de-larmes between three swans of the third
5. Barrington, argent, three chevronels gules, a label of as many points azure.
6. Clarence, the Royal Arms, France and England quarterly, a label of three points argent, each charged with a canton gules.

And he had above these the crests of Lybbe and Powys, both as above.
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He placed a pedigree record with the College of Arms, reported by Bluemantle Pursuivant on 25th April 2006:

“I can confirm that a pedigree of five generations has been placed on record [Coll Arm Ms Surrey 10/307] showing the descent from Henry Philip Powys of Hardwick House, Whitchurch, co. Oxford, born 24 November 1791 at Culham, co. Berkshire. It descends to the children of Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe of Rectory Farm, Streatley, co. Berkshire, born 12 August 1881 at Boulogne sur mer, France. These include Antony Powys-Lybbe, born 29 June 1909 at Rectory Farm.”
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Armorial Blazon notes for Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe (born POWYS)
1st & 4th LYBBE: Ermine a bend between two lions rampant gules, 2nd & 3rd POWYS: Or a Lion's gamb erased between two cross crosslets fitchée in bend sinister gu.

Crest of LYBBE: On a wreath of the Colours a dexter arm embowed in mail armour a hand supporting a spear erect, all proper.

Crest of Powys: On a Wreath A Lion’s Gamb erased erect Gules holding a staff ensigned with a Fleur de Lis Or.
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In 1907 the RL had:

  “… THAT the Petitioner … desirous of … bearing the Armorial Ensigns of Lybbe quarterly with those of Powys … KNOW YE that We … have given and granted … Our Royal Licence [that] … may bear the Arms of Lybbe quarterly with those of his and their own family …”

The blazon of Powys appears in a grant by Bysshe of 1662 as:

  "Or a Lion’s Gamb bendwise between two Cross crosslets fitchy Gules. The Crest being On a Wreath A Lion’s Gamb erased erect Gules holding a staff ensigned with a Fleur de Lis Or”.

I suspect because no grant for the Lybbe arms can be found though the arms are to be found in the 1574 Visitation of Oxfordshire, they included this Lybbe blazon in the exemplification that accompanied the RL:

“Quarterly
"First and Fourth Lybbe viz: Ermine a Bend between two Lions rampant Gules -
"Second and Third Powys -
"And the Crest of Lybbe viz: On  a Wreath of the Colours A dexter Arm embowed in Mail Armour the hand supporting a Spear erect all proper,
"And the Crest of Powys as the same are in the margin hereof more plainly depicted"

though the Lybbe crest of 1574 is slightly different to the 1907 one.

I think that the above three texts add up to the blazon at the top.
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Blazon source notes for Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe (born POWYS)
Royal Licence to him of 12th April 1807.
Notes for Reginald Cecil Lybbe & Lilian Frances Gillett (Family)
One of the marriage records for him on FreeBMD calls him ‘Powys-Lysse’; told ‘em.
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The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser of Sat 16 May 1908 had this notice on p. 10:

“Marriages:  POWYS LYBBE--TROTTER.--On the 12th inst., at St Mary’s Whitchurch, Oxon., by the Arch-deacon of Oxford, assisted by the Rev F.W.T. Greenwood, vicar of Market Drayton, cousin of the bridegroom, Reginald Cecil Lybbe Powys-Lybbe, of Hardwick House, Oxon., to Lilian Frances Gillett, youngest daughter of Canon Trotter, Rector of Whitchurch.”
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Last Modified 31 Jan 2022Created 14 May 2022 by Tim Powys-Lybbe
Re-created by Tim Powys-Lybbe on 14 May 20220